We’ve all known someone we would describe as a narcissist, but have you heard about antagonistic narcissism? Narcissism is a spectrum disorder, and antagonistic narcissism has its own symptoms and challenges.
Montare Tucson provides structured care under one roof that changes how people with mental health disorders think, feel, and behave. Our team of licensed therapists provides multi-disciplinary care that helps people identify their challenges and triggers and make real progress. If you know someone who constantly criticizes others and has an inflated egotistical view of themselves, we can help. Our regime of focused therapies helps people with narcissism discover the convenience and beauty of a world in which they are not always the center.
What is Antagonistic Narcissism?
Antagonistic narcissism is one of the types of narcissistic personality disorders. Narcissists are fixated on believing they are superior to all others and crave compliments and admiration from them. People with antagonistic narcissism have the additional behavior of antagonizing those around them and often are emotionally and physically abusive. They have no problem manipulating others with or without their knowing it and will exploit any situation they feel makes them look better or have more fanfare.
Understanding Antagonistic Narcissism
Living with antagonistic narcissism frustrates both the individual who has it and those around them. After all, no one can live up to their expectations of being constantly showered with compliments and affirmations that they are powerful and successful. On the surface, the individual may appear to be overfilled with self-confidence, however, beneath that exterior lies a person who fears they are not enough. As a result, they believe that if they use blustery, manipulative, and in-your-face behavior, it will cause others to provide them with the assurance of their own superiority they crave.
Symptoms and Causes
People often dismiss those with antagonistic narcissism as just being full of themselves, but the symptoms they exhibit indicate a much more serious problem. As well, those who know someone with this disorder often wonder why they developed it.
What are Common Signs and Symptoms of Antagonistic Narcissism?
Common signs and symptoms of antagonistic narcissism to be on the lookout for include:
- Insatiable desire for power and success
- Insulting others and belittling their accomplishments
- Viewing other people as needing to be critiqued or conquered
- Becoming angry when others do not do and say the things the individual expects of them
- Exploiting relationships for personal, professional, or monetary gain
- Cannot form or maintain healthy give-and-take relationships with others
- Desiring to be the center of attention at every moment
- Lack of sympathy for others
Causes of Antagonistic Narcissism
Experts cannot point to one specific event as the cause of developing antagonistic narcissism. Instead, a variety of things can contribute to a person developing it. For some, the issues have to do with genetics. Family members with personality disorders can pass on those traits through their genes to others in the family tree.
Additionally, the environment a person grows up in can greatly contribute to developing antagonistic narcissism. For example, parents who go to great lengths to shower their children with compliments and rewards not realistic to how the child behaves can contribute to the development of the disorder. As a result, a child who is spoiled constantly and doesn’t have to earn adoration may expect this to continue into adulthood.
On the other hand, children who are abused or neglected may grow up using unrealistic and unhealthy behaviors to try to earn the love and acceptance they lacked as kids. This is also true of children who were overly criticized and never developed healthy self-esteem.
5 Tips for Dealing with an Antagonistic Narcissist
If you know someone with antagonistic narcissism, you know how difficult it can be to interact with them. However, try using the following five approaches:
- First, speak calmly and offer rational responses to their conversations. If you refuse to get rattled or yell back, it often diffuses their anger to some degree.
- Second, tell the person you believe they have a disorder and that professional help is available. In addition, offer to help them look for a program.
- Third, set and use boundaries with the individual. Let them know you won’t tolerate things like yelling, insulting, name-calling, and other offensive dialogue.
- Moreover, educate yourself about narcissism. The more you understand about this frustrating disorder, the more you will know about how to react to it.
- Finally, if you are romantically involved with an antagonistic narcissist, remind yourself that you do not have to stay with them. Abusive verbal, emotional, or physical behaviors are unacceptable, and you have every right to protect yourself and any children you have by walking away from the relationship.
How to Treat Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Traditional talk therapy helps people with antagonistic narcissism learn to identify their behaviors and minimize them. Additionally, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people recognize how they feel and think and connect that to how they behave. Similarly, Dialectical Behavior Therapy also helps people accept themselves where they currently are while setting goals they can reach to improve their actions and how they feel about themselves.
In addition, prescription medications can help this disorder or co-occurring ones like anxiety or depression.
Contact Montare Tucson to Start Treatment for Antagonistic Narcissism
If antagonistic narcissism has impacted your life either through your own behavior or that of a loved one, we can help. Montare Tucson treats a wide range of mental health disorders, including those on the spectrum of narcissism. Our experienced staff of therapists understands the challenge of minimizing the symptoms of this illness. We work with each person to meet them where they are and help them gain a more realistic view of themselves and the world around them.
Contact us today, and let’s talk about how we can help you. Our admissions staff line is friendly and confidential to make it easy for you to talk.
Published: 3/4/2025
